Joseph Joseph chopping boards feature central spiked pads that hold whatever you’re cutting in place and stop it slipping. Joseph Joseph laundry baskets contain internal compartments to help separate your whites from your colours. Joseph Joseph kitchen utensils – like their knife sets and kitchen tools sets – are all designed to take up as little space as possible when stored. Joseph Joseph toilet brushes have discrete rear compartments to hold an air freshener aerosol or bottle. Today, the brand has expanded its range considerably, including an offering of innovative chopping boards. You can choose from classic options like theJoseph Joseph Cut and Carve Bamboo Multi-Function Chopping Board, or fantastic space-saving Joseph Joseph Index Chopping Board Sets. Housed in smart storage pods, these colour coded boards prevent cross-contamination and are dishwasher safe.

Pros: Silicone may one day end the wood/plastic debate by out-doing both materials. Pro chefs already love its knife-cushioning and non-slip properties, its lightweight versatility and ease of cleaning. Designers love silicone, too, because it’s flexible enough to morph into pourers, funnels and even bowls. Joseph Joseph was founded in 2003 when the brothers designed their first item, a glass chopping board. That’s not to say a wooden chopping board will be self-cleaning – you’ll still have to wash it. However, it possesses anti-microbial properties that make it somewhat more resistant to bacteria than plastic. So I should buy a wooden board, then?Pros: Bamboo is a strong, lightweight, affordable alternative to end-grain hardwood. It grows fast and is cultivated without pesticides, so it’s more eco-friendly than wood or synthetic materials. And since it’s so light, a huge slab-style bamboo board will remain easy to lift.

With their keen eyes for colour and form, each item designed by Joseph Joseph looks distinct and stylish. But more than that, the twin brothers have a passion for designing better products that make day-to-day tasks around the home faster and easier. So not only do Joseph Joseph items look fantastic, but they’re also practical too and make your life that little bit simpler. Each of the four polypropylene boards has a soft-grip tab on its edge that’s illustrated with a specific ingredient to reduce the risk of cross-contamination – the different colouring of each board helps in this regard, too – and they come stored in a sturdy, space-saving holder. The Joseph Joseph Totem Intelligent Waste System is a fantastic solution to household waste. This clever bin takes up the same amount of room as a standard bin but has separate compartments so you can store all your kitchen waste and recycling in one place. But there are a couple of downsides to this beautiful looking board.. One, it will blunt your knives in time, as would any bamboo board. Two, although incredibly hard-wearing, water is its kryptonite. It isn’t dishwasher-safe, and will warp if you soak it; you can wipe it clean with a damp cloth. Oil it with a food-safe oil such as linseed for maximum durability. Cons: Bamboo is harder than any hardwood, and its grain doesn’t offer much “give”. As such, it will dull your knives faster than wood, plastic or silicone. Wash it and it will warp, so you’ll have to wipe it instead – and oil it to keep it looking ship-shape.However, since then scientists have found that wood can help resist harmful bacteria, turning food hygiene orthodoxy on its head. In 1994, Wisconsin University researchers infected plastic and wood boards with E.coli, salmonella and listeria, finding that the wooden boards retained 98-99% less bacteria than plastic. Plastic was said to become an even worse breeding ground for bacteria once it’s scarred with knife marks.

Don’t let the above put you off, though. The Chop2Pot is a fabulous board – and the small 25.7cm version makes a great pressie for a foodie, too. Like a lot of plastic chopping boards, sharp knife marks do start to show after a while, but it’s still pretty durable for the price and you can throw it in the dishwasher when you have finished with it for a thorough, hygienic clean. Downsides? You’ll see knife cuts in the boards before long, but this is almost impossible to avoid with a polypropylene board; bear in mind that these boards don’t mark as easily as cheaper plastic boards. They’re dishwasher-safe – except the textured holder, which should be wiped clean instead – and fairly resistant to warping, too. Not so fast. Plastic boards are easier to clean than wood, not least because you can slide them into the dishwasher and sanitise them using chemicals and bleach, which rinse off plastic far more easily than wood.

OXO’s board is fairly large so you’ll need enough space to store it when it’s not in use, or you could opt for the compact size that’s 18.4 x 27.3cm. If you get frustrated by fruit and vegetable peelings getting in the way while you chop, this compact board is an ideal solution, especially on a budget. Featuring two detachable trays that sit on each side of the chopping board, the Chop and Swipe lets you easily separate your peel and chopped food, leaving you with more space on the main board to continue prepping. Key details – Material: BPA free plastic (dishwasher-safe) Colours: White/Sage green; Sizes: Compact, Medium Take a look at these fantastic looking, iconic Joseph Joseph Totem Compact Waste Recycling Units too, to see how good a Joseph Joseph recycling bin can look. That Joseph and Joseph touch

Pros: Even cheap polypropylene boards are dishwasher-safe and can withstand rigorous abuse from chemicals, hence their popularity in pro kitchens. They’re lightweight and easy to manufacture in different colours, so you can buy a colour-coded set to avoid cross-contamination. One of the key Joseph Joseph developments was when they turned their eye for design to bins and waste management. Joseph Joseph designed items are characteristically elegant, reliable and made to an exceptional finish. But what really sets their designs apart is the fact that all of their products have clever added features that make them that little bit more useful. And in turn make your life that little bit easier.All of Joseph Joseph's products are designed in the UK, but their production process takes place globally. The brand works with manufacturers and suppliers worldwide to ensure that their products are made to the highest quality standards while also maintaining a commitment to sustainability. Joseph Joseph uses eco-friendly materials wherever possible, such as recycled plastic and bamboo, and they also aim to reduce waste and energy consumption throughout the manufacturing process. Why should I buy Joseph Joseph at Kitchenware Australia & NZ? The only niggle we had is that it marked easily when using heavy-duty knives. If you’re like us though, you’ll have a different chopping board for different tasks and this one is ideal for general everyday use. If you’re looking for a sturdy breadboard, this might not be the one for you, however. What’s more, the retention of bacteria isn’t really the problem. The biggest hygiene risk in any kitchen comes from cross-contamination between different types of food, such as raw meat, fish and dough. It hardly matters the material on which you prepare these foodstuffs, as long as you use different surfaces for each food type – and keep them clean. What are the pros and cons of other materials?